small but mighty… · o population: 1,142 (2015) located 40 minutes from the omaha metro area in...
TRANSCRIPT
Capturing Art, Culture and Local Food to Invigorate Small, Rural Communities in Southwest Iowa
Small but Mighty…
Our Goals
Make rural Southwest Iowa communities cool
Encourage return of young residents
Re-imagine ways to draw visitors and economic growth
Support a spirit of entrepreneurship
Our Focus Areas
Local Food
Art & Culture
Recreation & Tourism
Civic Engagement
Our Method – Collective Impact
Common Agenda
Shared Measurement
Mutually Reinforcing Activities
Continuous Communication
Backbone Support Organization
“Alright stop. Collaborate and
listen…”
~ Vanilla Ice
Our Inspiration -
Community Capitals Framework
Source:
Dr. Jan Flora, Professor, Department of
Sociology and Dr. Cornelia Flora, Emeritus Distinguished Professor, Department of
Sociology, Iowa State University
What Makes Communities Cool?
Entrepreneur and small business friendly
Digital infrastructure
Social opportunities – music, food, activities
Recreational amenities – parks, trails, natural resources
Ability to participate as a citizen
Historic fabric and building stock
Big space – small money
Welcoming environment
Our Initiatives
Southwest Iowa Arts Council Southwest Iowa Food & Farm Initiative
o Build knowledge and business planning skills for
small scale farmers
Supported creation of Farmers Markets in small
towns
Marketing initiatives to promote
Buy Fresh - Buy Local
Developing marketing & aggregation for
institutional and restaurant sales – medium
scale farmers
Creating food hubs for value added
production and aggregation/distribution
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Southwest Iowa Food & Farm Initiative
o Build networking opportunities and
business planning skills for artists
Supported creation of annual
Southwest Iowa Art Tour
Maker to Market opportunities –
shared art promotion & sales
Promote galleries in small towns
Develop art and culture venues and
connected routes
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Southwest Iowa Arts Council
Growing Success Story - Malvern, Iowa
Community Snapshot
o Population: 1,142 (2015)
Located 40 minutes from the Omaha Metro area in Mills
County, Iowa
Declining school enrollment
Median Age: 40
Empty main street store front
Decommissioned churches
Empty elementary school building
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Malvern is located in the heart of the 63 mile
Wabash Trace Nature Trail.
Small town…. mobilized
Before
CDBG Main Street
Façade Project
2012-2015
After
Before
After
Before After
Embrace a Vision(ary)
Capitalize on Your Assets
Expand partnerships
Cultivate the Weird and Unique
Build a Spirit of Cooperation
Enthusiasm is Contagious
Ignore the Naysayers
Progress is impossible without
change, and those who cannot
change their minds cannot change
anything.
~George Bernard Shaw
Many Partners
o Malvern Area Betterment Association
Southwest Iowa Art Council
Project Art Church
Iowa Economic Development Authority
Local Councils of Government – Rural Planning Agencies (SWIPCO & MAPA)
East Mills Community School District
Iowa State University Extension – Mills County Fair Board
Southwest Iowa Food and Farm Initiative
Mills County Board of Supervisors
Local businesses and residents
Malvern State Bank
Southwest Iowa Nature Trails – Wabash Trace
Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
Malvern Market & Development
University of Iowa Outreach & Engagement
And so many more…..
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